Cool Gamer Gear for College

If you're heading back to school, these essential tech toys for your dorm room will keep you gaming all night.

0shares

OB Roundup

It's time to go back to school (or, if you're a freshman, to a new school). And that means lugging all of your prized possessions into a new dorm room or apartment to get settled again. It also means turning it into your new home for the next year—including getting all the tech gear you need to survive your classes and your gaming habit.

For starters, you need a computer and everything that goes with it. A high-end gaming notebook would be ideal, but they're massive beasts that you can't exactly carry around easily. A smaller notebook like the 14-inch Maingear Pulse 14 is an excellent compromise, since it's portable enough to fit in a bag and powerful enough to run any modern game. A wireless mouse like the Logitech G602 and a wireless headset like the Skullcandy PLYR 1 will keep you in control and connected without cluttering your desk with wires. For some extra help in shooters and MMOs, the Razer Orbweaver offers one-handed mechanical keyboard controls in a tiny package that augments, not replaces, the Pulse 14's keyboard.

Your notebook should mainly be for "studying," though, and you'll probably want some entertainment besides that. While you probably won't have the room or the budget to get the big-screen HDTV of your dreams, the 39-inch Sharp LC-39LE551u offers a surprisingly nice picture for a scant $420, and you can even use it as a second monitor.

Console gaming is a matter of taste, and since we're securely in the newest generation of systems, the choice is yours for the next four years. Nintendo's Wii U is the most affordable and has a very handy touch screen gamepad that lets you play many games with the HDTV off, while the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 pack much more power under the hood and connected features for online play.

Just remember to not let your studying slip, to make some friends on your floor (which will be easy with a big HDTV), and call your mother every week. She worries about you.

FEATURED IN THIS ROUNDUP

Microsoft Xbox One $499.99%displayPrice% at %seller% It's the start of a new console generation, and you're going to have a start taking sides if you won't stay above the fray as a PC gamer. The Xbox One was our favorite for its bevy of useful multimedia features in addition to its gaming power. You can find a Kinect-less version for $400, but you'll be missing out on some handy voice control features and multitasking tricks. Read the full review ››

Sony PlayStation 4 $399.99%displayPrice% at %seller% If the Xbox One isn't your thing, the Sony PlayStation 4 is a gaming beast in its own right, and the DualShock 4 controller is one of the most comfortable we've ever tested. It pairs up nicely with the PS Vita, letting you play games on your handheld late into the night without disturbing your roommate. Read the full review ››

Nintendo Wii U $299.99%displayPrice% at %seller% It might not have the hardcore gamer appeal of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, but the Wii U has a lot of useful features to make it great for a dorm. The gamepad lets you play without the TV on so as not to disturb your roommate. Many games are built around multiple players in the same room so you can bring your friends together without online play. And it's backwards compatible with all Wii games, which means there's a huge library for you to access. Read the full review ››

Sony PlayStation Vita Slim (PCH-2000) $199.99%displayPrice% at %seller% The original PlayStation Vita was a powerful handheld game system hindered by a high price tag and few games. But the newer, slimmer Vita fixes nearly all of those problems. It has a huge library of not just Vita but PlayStation Portable and PSOne Classic games, plus a longer battery life, a micro USB port for much easier charging, and a reasonable $200 price tag. If you get a PlayStation 4 to go with it, it becomes even more useful as a remote gameplay system. Read the full review ››

Maingear Pulse 14 $1,699%displayPrice% at %seller% Gaming notebooks don't have to cost over $2,000 and dominate your desk space. The Maingear Pulse 14 is a slim, 14-inch notebook with an Intel Core i7 CPU and GeForce GTX 850M GPU, giving it enough power to run any game you want with ease, while staying thin and light enough to take to class. Read the full review ››

Sharp LC-39LE551U $419.99%displayPrice% at %seller% Just because you're in a dorm doesn't mean you can't enjoy an HDTV. The Sharp LC-48LE551U we tested produced the nicest picture we've seen in a budget set, and the 39-inch version, the LC-39LE551U, can be found for just $420. It can double as a big secondary monitor for your computer, too. Read the full review ››

Skullcandy PLYR 1 $179.99%displayPrice% at %seller% Whether you're playing online or Skyping with your parents, a wireless headset can be incredibly useful. The Skullcandy PLYR 1 can work with both your PC and game consoles, offers solid faux-surround sound, and has a handy base and charging stand so you won't lose it. It's perfect if you want to keep playing long after your roommate has gone to bed. Read the full review ››

Razer Orbweaver $129.99%displayPrice% at %seller% Gaming keyboards are great, but you might not have the room for a full-size keyboard on your dorm desk. If you want responsive, customizable keys on a gaming-focused keyboard, the Razer Orbweaver is just what your left hand (or right, if you're left-handed) needs. This keypad offers tons of programmable keys for your favorite MMO, RTS, or FPS, and its thumb controls are top-notch. Combine it with the Logitech G602 mouse, and you're equipped for gaming while still having enough desk space for coffee and Cup Noodle. Read the full review ››

Logitech G602 Wireless Gaming Mouse $79.99%displayPrice% at %seller% An affordable price tag, a comfortable design, and excellent performance make Logitech's G602 gaming mouse ideal for your desk. It might not be rechargeable, but it can last up to two months (or 10 straight days of continuous use) on just two AA batteries. Its 2,500 DPI sensor, capable of registering up to two meters of travel per second, makes it incredibly precise and customizable, with easy on-the-fly sensitivity switching. Read the full review ››

Steam/XBL/PSN/Nintendo eStore Gift Cards You're not going to have enough room to keep a bunch of game boxes. Consolidate your game library with credit for your favorite digital distribution service. Download your games to your computer and consoles, and rest easy knowing you won't lose or misplace the discs—and be able to keep every game you own right on your device of choice without switching discs.

Will Greenwald has been covering consumer technology for more than six years, and has served on the editorial staffs of CNET.com, Sound & Vision, and Maximum PC. Since graduating from Syracuse University in 2005, Will has been an active technology journalist both online and in print. His work and analysis has been seen in GamePro, Tested.com, Geek.com, and several other publications. He currently covers consumer electronics in the PCMag.com labs, focusing on Blu-ray players, set-top boxes, and other home theater equipment.
...
More »

Automatic Renewal Program: Your subscription will continue without interruption for as long as you wish, unless
you instruct us otherwise. Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of the term unless you authorize
cancellation. Each year, you'll receive a notice and you authorize that your credit/debit card will be charged the
annual subscription rate(s). You may cancel at any time during your subscription and receive a full refund on all
unsent issues. If your credit/debit card or other billing method can not be charged, we will bill you directly instead. Contact Customer Service

//our current issue

Select Term:

24 issues for $29.99 ONLY $1.25 an issue! Lock in Your Savings!

12 issues for $19.99ONLY $1.67 an issue!

State

Country

This transaction is secure

Automatic Renewal Program: Your subscription will continue without interruption for as long as you wish, unless
you instruct us otherwise. Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of the term unless you authorize
cancellation. Each year, you'll receive a notice and you authorize that your credit/debit card will be charged the
annual subscription rate(s). You may cancel at any time during your subscription and receive a full refund on all
unsent issues. If your credit/debit card or other billing method can not be charged, we will bill you directly instead. Contact Customer Service